Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne speaks at a daily press conference from West Block in Ottawa to update Canadians about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on April 2, 2020. Andrew Meade/iPolitics

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China was flustered by a bloc of countries including Canada that called on the World Health Organization to give Taiwan special observer status at an upcoming meeting where it’s discussing measures to quell the coronavirus contagion.

“On the Taiwan region’s participation in WHO activities, China’s position is clear and consistent. The one-China principle must be observed,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson wrote on its website.

Canada has been joined by Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Britain, Japan and the U.S. in requesting the involvement of Taiwan, which had early success controlling COVID-19.

Most Canadians wouldn’t support governments requiring them to download a tracking app to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a new Mainstreet Research poll suggests.

Just over 57 per cent of the 1,404 respondents in the firm’s automated telephone survey, conducted between May 6-7, voiced disapproval of mandating the use of a tracking app, with that number higher among men (60.3 per cent), people between the ages of 18-34 (66.1), B.C. residents (68), Albertans (65.5), those in the Prairies (59.3) and Quebeckers (63.7).

Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault was pressed for plans to support Western heritage, with Conservative MPs saying provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan feel dismissed by the federal government.

Guilbeault testified at a House industry meeting Monday night to discuss the federal government’s response to COVID-19.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner asked the minister how the federal government would bolster western heritage, saying the Trudeau Liberal’s environmental policies have hurt the province’s energy sector leading to a drop in philanthropy for arts and culture.

The federal government on Monday announced new loan expansion programs to help the country’s biggest companies weather the impacts of the pandemic. The new Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will be available for firms making more than $300 million in revenue a year that are seeking more than $60 million in lending. LEEFF eligibility hinges on conditions involving executive pay as well as environmental disclosure. iPolitics’ Jolson Lim has more on the program, as well as another that was expanded to help mid-sized companies.

One of the Trudeau government’s handpicked favourites for developing a vaccine for COVID-19 has shown promise so far in testing in ferrets. Charlie Pinkerton looks at the animal’s role and what could follow in the many months that still precede production, should the immunizer prove safe and effective.

While Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that he would “love to sit down” and discuss funding measures that could necessitate restructuring the province’s for-profit long-term care system, “it’s not really a conversation we’re having right now, at all,” a spokesperson for him said. Victoria Gibson has more of the latest on long-term care, as the system becomes increasingly scrutinized during the pandemic.

In Quebec, Premier François Legault indicated that his government may hesitate and stall the reopening of schools, daycares and retailing in Montreal beyond the May 25 date it planned. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he’s “very worried” about the city that’s home to his seat. Kevin Dougherty has more of the latest on the pandemic in Quebec.

Around the World

Rather than reassuring the nation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s release of a plan to ease the country out of a lockdown came with confusion and division. The government’s 51-page document released on Monday failed to clarify which businesses could reopen, what physical distancing guidelines employers had to enforce and what sort of visits people could now undertake. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s leaders don’t plan on following much of Johnson’s plans. (Globe and Mail)

Russian President Vladimir Putin also announced Monday that the country would begin peeling back its own social restrictions. Its cases are still rising but it has reported a mortality rate that’s almost one-third of the world average. However, data released by Moscow’s city government indicates a different story: The number of overall deaths in April exceeded the five-year average for the same month by more than 1,700, suggesting underreporting in the city where so far only 642 COVID-19 deaths have been officially recorded. (New York Times)

The White House on Monday is now requiring all West Wing employees to wear masks for much of their work days after two staff members close to President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Trump said he gave the directive but that it doesn’t pertain to he and Vice President Mike Pence. (New York Times)

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to adopt new rules to limit its presidential nominating convention on Tuesday. A limited in-person event or virtual nomination could be in store for August. (Washington Post)